Dahlia plant named ‘Bkdadp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Bkdadp’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; dense and bushy growth habit; early and continuous flowering habit; double inflorescences with light red purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDADP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Bkdadp’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new container Dahlia plants that havea freely branching habit, attractive ray floret coloration, longflowering period and good garden performance.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2006in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahliahybrida identified as code number 2006-0102, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment inMaasdijk, The Netherlands in July, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since November, 2007 has shownthat the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bkdadp’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bkdadp’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounding        plant habit.    -   2. Dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Early and continuous flowering habit.    -   4. Double inflorescences with light red purple-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia flower earlier than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent        selection have dark pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘GallerySisley’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,808. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahlia differed from plants of ‘Gallery Sisley’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia were darker green in color        than leaves of plants of ‘Gallery Sisley’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia were more deeply serrated        than leaves of plants of ‘Gallery Sisley’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bkdadp’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Bkdadp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in 15-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and underconditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial container Dahlia production. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plantswere pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘Bkdadp’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia            hybrida identified as code number 2006-0102, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia            hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at            temperatures of about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures of about 18° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at temperatures of about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous, white in            color; tuber development has not been observed.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and mounding plant form; broad inverted            triangle; about eight primary lateral branches develop, each            primary lateral branch with numerous secondary branches;            inflorescences held above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 27.8 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.4 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Internode length: About 4.8 cm. Aspect: About 30° from            vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 143B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves either single or            compound with three to five leaflets.        -   Single leaves.—Length: About 10.2 cm. Width: About 7.9 cm.        -   Compound leaves.—Length: About 11.7 cm. Width: About 10.9            cm.        -   Leaflet leaves.—Length: About 6.4 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Single leaves: Broadly ovate. Leaflets: Ovate.        -   Apex, single leaves and leaflets.—Apiculate.        -   Base, single leaves and leaflets.—Attenuate.        -   Margin, single leaves and leaflets.—Coarsely dentate.        -   Venation pattern, single leaves and leaflets.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper surface, single leaves and leaflets.—Smooth,            glabrous; mid-vein, sparsely pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface, single leaves and leaflets.—Smooth,            glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close            to N137A. Developing leaves and leaflets, lower surface:            Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, upper            surface: Darker than between N137D and 147A; venation, close            to N137D. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, lower surface:            Close to 191A; venation, close to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Double inflorescence form with            ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely            flowering habit, about 40 inflorescences developing per            plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about ten weeks after planting; plants flower            continuously during the late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about two to three weeks on the plant;            inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144A;            towards the base, close to 143A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.4 cm. Depth (height):            About 6.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle            height: About 4 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Receptacle color: Close to 145C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 130 arranged            in about five whorls. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About            1.9 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: About 65° from vertical; ray florets            concave. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Between 68B and 73B; towards the margins, close to            71B; towards the base, close to 3A to 3B. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 71B to 71C; towards the base, close            to 3B; longitudinal ribs, close to 155C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to N74D; towards the margins, close to 71B;            towards the base, close to 3A to 3B; color becoming closer            to 70B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 67A; towards the base, close to 3C; longitudinal ribs,            close to 155C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 36. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular,            elongated; apices, acute. Texture, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened,            inner and outer surfaces: Close to 13A; towards the base,            close to 151C to 151D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 6 mm.            Shape: Narrowly oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 151C;            towards the base, close to 143A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 12.4 cm. Length,            axillary peduncle: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Aspect: Erect to about 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets            only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:            About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 151C to 151D. Anther            shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther            color: Close to 22A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            Close to 23A. Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets:            Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style            length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 151C to 151D.            Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 22A. Ovary            color: Close to 145C. Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind and rain. Plants    of the new Dahlia have been observed to be tolerant to high    temperatures of 35° C. and hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8.

1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Bkdadp’ as illustrated anddescribed.